Black Philanthropists Gather In CA's Bay Area

OAKLAND, CA -- National thought leaders join Bay Area Blacks in Philanthropy (BABIP) to celebrate Black Philanthropy and confer on "The State of the Race: Investing in Black Communities," September 29th and September 30th.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton popularized the African proverb "It takes a village to raise a child" to emphasize the importance of community involvement. "A child cannot be raised, a village cannot exist without the proper resources," said Cedric Brown, President, Bay Area Blacks in Philanthropy. "We're beginning with a reception "Celebrating Black Philanthropy" that will recognize the generous giving of unsung African Americans who contribute significant resources to the village. The next day we have national thought-leaders joining us to take a closer look at the state of the race and explore the demographic changes impacting Blacks in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Junious Williams, Jr., CEO, Urban Strategies Council, a community building support and advocacy organization creating healthy communities, said, "As a co-sponsor of the conference, I am pleased to be included in this very important discourse. Although there have been many strides made and we have a President with African heritage in the White House, there is still much that has to be said concerning the state of Blacks in the U.S. and we are starting right here at home in the Bay Area, which has provided many models for social change."

The public is invited to attend the Gala Reception: Celebrating Black Philanthropy, Wednesday, September 29th, 6:30 p.m. at the African American Museum and the "State of the Race: Investing in Black Communities" Conference, Thursday, September 30th, 8:30 a.m. at the Oakland Conference Center at the California Endowment, 1111 Broadway in Oakland.

The Gala Reception will be emceed by Dave Clark, KTVU's Morning News Anchor and will celebrate the spirit of philanthropy by and for Blacks in the Bay Area community as it presents "the 2010 BABIP Community Impact Awards." Community Impact honorees will receive the following awards:

"The State of the Race: Investing in Black Communities" Conference will provide an opportunity for dialogue and education on the status of Black communities in the Bay Area. Utilizing research generated by the Urban Strategies Council, it will address some of the major issues facing these communities including changes in demographic patterns, economic development, incarceration and re-entry, health and environment. The goal of the fall conference is to provide a platform for developing investment approaches that can improve outcomes for Blacks and their communities and serve as a national model.

ABOUT BAY AREA BLACKS IN PHILANTHROPY
BABIP is a regional, nonprofit membership organization that works to advance the interests of African Americans in philanthropy and address the impact of racial disparity within philanthropic institutions and African American communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. Utilizing research and national Bay Area thought-leaders, the organization sets philanthropic precedents that can be replicated nationwide.